Trick-or-Healthy Treat!

Even when I was a kid, I was all for healthy Halloween treats. I must admit that I never quite appreciated the houses that gave away toothbrushes. It was usually a dentist trying to profit from the holiday, with their logo and contact information on the toothbrush (Dentists- you’re welcome for the marketing tip)!

Looking for some yummy and healthy treats you can give away on Halloween night? Look no further!

Here’s five healthy trick-or-treat ideas for the spooky holiday:

1) Dried fruit

Example: Clif Kid Twisted Fruit

- This is a a tasty treat that comes in a variety of flavors, among my favorite are Strawberry and Sour Apple. Kids will love them, and parents will love them even more when they find out that there is no processed sugars.

Worried about having a gluten intolerance? No worries…this is also a gluten free treat.

2) Nutritious Bar snacks

Example: LÄRABARS

- I absolutely love all of these bars! They taste great and have very limited ingredients. Another perk? These are healthy bars that are actually “healthy”. Go figure…

3) Individual Nut packets

Example: Planter’s Nuts on the Go

-You’re trick-or-treaters will go nuts for these (cheesy joke, sorry)! They are loaded with lots of protein from the nuts, and are in small enough packages that you won’t over do it on the calories.

4) Crackers

Example: Annie’s Homegrown Real Cheddar Bunnies.

-These delicious snacks don’t have any artificial flavors or hydrogenated oils. They are orange…perfect for the holiday, right?

5) Natural  Gum

Example: Xylitol Gum by Epic™

-This is a rare and special find! I dare you to look at all other gum on the market and try to find something without any  Sugar, Cane Juice, Aspartame or any other artificial sweeteners.The Xylitol Gum by Epic™ has no sugar or artificial sweeteners!

Also, this gum comes in lots of different flavors, and each of them tastes great!

These healthy treats are a win-win:  Your trick-or-treaters will love these healthy treats, which will be a nice change from all of the junk food they will be getting. Another win? You won’t mind if you end up with leftover treats!

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Tags: Candy, crackers, Dried Fruit, gum, Halloween, Healthy Alternative, healthy snack, healthy treat, holiday, Nut packets, Nutrition Bar, Trick-or-treat

The Dangerous Truth about Perfume

We all love a good perfume…but is our perfume good for us?

Harmful Side-Effects

I have  learned that the fragrance industry has checks and balances that are nothing but a conflict of interest. Big companies are here to make money. Here are some findings that prove how bad the chemicals can be for us, but remain hidden for a hefty profit…

•If you have a sensitivity to Chemicals, you can get nausea, dizziness, headaches, rashes, etc.

•Linked to causing/triggering asthma attacks

•Animal studies have shown that chemicals found in perfumes caused Cancer, Organ damage, and even reproductive harm. If it does that to the animals, what is it doing to us?

•There are thousands of different ingredients used in the fragrance industry, and less than half of them have been tested for human exposure. On top of that, fragrance companies have “Independent” companies check the ingredients for human exposure.

The Author of Toxic Beauty and chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition, , Dr. Samuel Epstein, M.D. counsels:

“This testing is minimal and restricted to local effects on human skin, and short-term toxicity tests in rodents.”

Healthy Solutions

•Spray perfume on your clothing rather than your skin. I noticed I was getting a rash on my arms, and didn’t know what it was from. I got tested and found out it was from my perfume! Now I make sure that I spray on my clothes…not my skin.

•You can go “All Natural”. Studies have shown that men are attracted to woman’s natural scent. Guess we didn’t have to buy all of those expensive perfumes after all?

•Don’t overdo it! Smelling a lot of chemicals from perfumes can never be good and always remember that nobody wants to smell someone drenched in perfume.

•Try Essential Oils. Essential oils are natural and come from plants. If you have a negative reaction to perfumes, Essential oils may be a solution for you. If you are pregnant or nursing some precautions should be used.

What’s your healthy beauty secret that keeps you smelling good without all the chemicals?

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Tags: asthma, Beauty, chemicals, dizziness, Essential Oils, healthy solutions, nausea, perfume, rashes, skin, toxic

Veggie Slices by Galaxy Nutritional Foods

Healthy and Tasty Alternative

I was looking for a healthy alternative to Cheddar Cheese slices, and I came across the Cheddar flavored Veggie Slices by Galaxy Nutritional Foods. I have tried them cold in deli sandwiches and warm in grilled cheese sandwiches and even on top of eggs. Every time I use these Veggie slices, nobody can tell the difference between them and real cheddar cheese slices!

More good news…

•Only 40 calories per slice (compared to 60-80 calories per slice)

•No Cholesterol

•Lactose Free

•Gluten Free

•Comes in a variety of flavors: Cheddar, Pepper Jack, American, Swiss, Smoked Provolone, and Cheddar with Jalapeños.

Wow! These Veggie Slices are delicious and a lot healthier for you than regular cheese!

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Tags: American, Cheddar, Cheddar and Jalapeños, cheese, delicious, gluten free, Healthy, Healthy Alternative, Lactose Free, low calorie, no cholesterol, Pepper Jack, Smoked Provolone, Swiss, Tasty, Veggie Slices

Breastfeeding vs. Formula

When you first get pregnant, one of the many important decisions you will need to make is whether you should breastfeed or not. It’s a decisoon that will effect your baby’s health. You want to make sure that you give your baby the best.

A healthy baby is a happy baby!

Which is healthier;  Breast milk or Formula?

Research shows that Breast milk is the healthiest option for your small baby. Even though formula has come along way, it still doesn’t quite compare to what Mother Nature has to provide. (Note: If you can’t breastfeed for whatever reason, formula will provide your baby with essential nutrients). 

Baby’s Benefits

• Perfect balance of Nutrients, which also evolves to meet your baby’s needs throughout development.

• Easy to digest.

• Helps prevent sickness, including Ear Infections, Stomach Flu, Pneumonia, and Digestive Tract Disorders.

• Protection against Diabetes, Heart Disease, Respiratory Infections, and Allergies.

• Improves brain function.

Mom’s Benefits

• Helps Mom burn calories! Also, breastfeeding reduces fat stores, which helps you return to your normal weight before you even got pregnant.

• Studies have shown that woman who breastfeed have reduced risks of breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

• Breast milk is free. I know this shouldn’t be your reason the breast feeding, but it’s a nice advantage to it! 

Formula

Some woman are not able to breastfeed (or choose not to, which is OK too), so choosing the right formula is an important decision to make. Not all formula is created equal.

• Stay away from Soy based formulas. These may be “Lactose Free” and marketed as a healthier choice, but in reality they compromise the health of your baby in many ways. Soy formulas affect the baby’s hormone levels, impair thyroid function, and will expose your baby to dangerously high estrogen levels.

• The average baby formula is based on pasteurized milk. This type of formula can compromise your baby’s digestive system, but still better for your baby when you compare it to Soy formulas.

Interesting thought

For someone who makes a profit from selling formula, what does a company like Gerber® have to say about breastfeeding?

“Breast milk is best for babies and provides the nutrition for cognitive development and physical growth”

If you have the choice, breast milk is the healthiest option for your baby and you!

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Tags: Allergies, Baby, Breast Milk, Breastfeeding, digestion, Formula, Healthy, New Mom, nutrients, prevention, soy

Vegetarian Burrito

Ingredients:

6 soft Tortillas (warmed)

2 cups cooked Brown Rice

1 cup cooked Black Beans

2 cups shredded Lettuce

1 cup chopped Tomatoes

1/2 cup grated Almond Cheddar Style Cheese

Red or Green Sauce, if desired.

Instructions:

Step 1) Place warmed tortilla on a plate, and then add rice, black beans, lettuce, tomatoes and almond cheese on the tortilla.

Step 2) Wrap up tortilla to make a burrito.

Enjoy!

Note:

The variety of colors and  flavors mix well together, and this is a delicious burrito all on it’s own! Of course, you can add the red or green sauce to it if needed, but it’s definitely not a “must”.

I always try to cook with as much fresh ingredients as possible, but I understand if that can’t always be the case. If you need to, use a 15 oz can of black beans in replace of the 1 cup of freshly cooked black beans. Also, there are plenty of delicious and soft Gluten-Free tortillas available if needed.

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Tags: Almond Cheese, black beans, brown rice, Burrito, Dinner Recipe, healthy recipe, lettuce, Lunch recipe, Recipe, tomatoes, Tortilla, vegetarian